Jatin Das said artists must distance themselves from public money and power

“We are not performing artists. We work quietly. It is not necessary for an artist to exhibit. These days not only artists’ work but they themselves are in marketplace. For any creative activity, you need distance from public money and power,” said well-known artist Jatin at the opening session of the ongoing Dehradun Community Literature Festival 2017. The veteran artist, who shared several anecdotes on his meeting with legends, kept the audience engaged as well as co-panelist Rohinton Daruwala and moderator Nazia Y Izuddin.

His strong views didn’t spare many, including his friends from the art fraternity. “You see big signatures on artworks by many artists. Pablo Picasso, MF Husain, FN Souza… all started doing it. This also contributed to their popularity. When I go abroad, people raise their eyebrows if I tell them I don’t know much about Picasso. ‘Don’t you know Picasso?’ they reply in shock. I say there are many talented great sculptors and artists whose works should be celebrated. Why is it that our name should be as popular as our work? Picasso is not as great as Leonardo Da Vinci but his name is like stamp. And all artists follow that trend. We are like a lost race. I think one needs to distance oneself one’s art,” he said.

He lamented how artists run after fame and are in hurry to exhibit their work. “We needs rasikas (aesthete) of art. Bu unfortunately, everybody is in hurry. Today, they create 10 pieces and want to do a solo show,” he said.

SONALI BENDRE SHARES PARENTING TIPS

Sonali Bendre poses for Born of Web minutes before her session at Dehradun Community Literature Festival 2017/SHAZID CHAUHAN

The other session which drew attention was by actor Sonali Bendre Behl on her book The Modern Gurukul: My Experiments with Parenting. The book is about her journey, achievements and challenges as a first-time mother. She was in interaction with Penguin’s editor Milee Ashwarya. “I had love for books ever since I was a child. I love the smell of new books,” she shared adding that her prescribes tips in her book is subjective to her own experiences. Sonali has also started a reading club on Facebook and is drawing tremendous response. “I think people are reading less these days. They are mostly online. So why not club it?” she told us before her session.

Milee Ashwarya in conversation with Sonali Bendre/SHAZID CHAUHAN

(BornofWeb.com is the online partner of WIC Dehradun Community Literature Festival 2017. Stay tuned for all updates, news and interviews from DCLF 2017. For more information on the festival, check out this page!)